Applejack: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Tile Placement, Drafting
Player Age: 8+ Player Count: 1 - 4 PlayersTime to Play: 30 - 60 Minutes
Game Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
Player Age: 8+
Game Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
Objective:
Throughout Applejack you are creating a thriving orchard of apples and honey production. During the game players will place apple tiles to create a pattern of connected apple types, of which there are seven varieties. These apple chains will score multiple times throughout gameplay which then yields honey via tile connections. Whichever player has the most honey at the end of the game will win (this honey also comes from one last round if scoring all the apples), however, throughout the game honey is used as a currency when adding new tiles to a player's orchard so spend your honey carefully to gain the best point potential.
Game Anatomy:
Orchards:
Each orchard has 19 spaces for the apple tree tiles, as well as an A- and B-side. The A-side has the same starting position for all players, whereas the B-side has different honey and apple values around the edges of the orchard.
The Applejack and Harvest Board:
The are two double-sided harvest boards with a unique player count. Each harvest board has a path that the applejack will follow before reaching the starting space and increasing its value. There are apples along the path that will score when the applejack crosses them. Each players turn is also represented on the board with either a circle, square, triangle or a pentagon, which is a nice visual addition that helps players keep track of turns.
Tree Tiles:
Tree tiles can depict a mix of multiple apple types, flowers and honey. A tree tile can be purchased in the ‘Purchase Phase’ and the honey denoted on the tile is the cost to buy. Each tile also has a pasture side where, if you do not have the honey to purchase a tile, you can place a tile showing the two sheep to gain two honey. This tile does not connect apples together and will not produce honey other than the initial two.
Honey Chips:
Honey is used for both the end game scoring and as currency during the game. Due to this players should use this sweet nectar thoughtfully and efficiently.
Apple Tiles:
The apple tiles are used in a variant mode that changes the order in which apples are scored om the harvest track.
Setup:
- Place an orchard in front of each player with the A side face up (the B Side is for individual orchid variants).
- Place the honey tokens within reach of all players.
- Give each player their starting honey, beginning with the first player, as shown in the table below.
- Put the harvest board in the middle with the correct player count shown on the board.
- Place the applejack on the starting location with the ‘1’ side face-up.
- Place the tree tiles within reach with the pasture side face-up.
- Reveal two tree tiles and place them between the 7 meadow spots next to the harvest board (troughs).
How to Play:
When the players have a full orchard with the applejack having three pips depicted and is at the autumn location, the game will end. Until then players take turns back and forth, with five steps to a turn.
Select a Tree Tile or Draw Blindly:
A player will select a tree tile from one of two meadow spots adjacent to the applejack’s location, or they may draw a tile blindly from the pasture pile.
Pay for the Tree Tile or use the Pasture Side:
To be able to place the tree tile, a player must pay honey equal to the number denoted on the tile. If unable to pay, the tile can be placed face-down in the pasture position to gain two honey.
Placing Tree Tile:
When placing a tree tile the goal is to have the same type of apples connect, thereby creating good crop potential. The tree tile can be placed anywhere in the orchard and does not have to be connected to a precious tile.
Collecting Honey:
After placing a tree tile, check for any honey connections along the edges of tiles. When two honey edges connect, gain the lesser honey amount into your personal supply. If multiple connections occur, the lesser honey is gained from each one.
Move the Applejack:
Move the applejack to the next stop on the path in a clockwise order. If the applejack passes any apples, pause the movement here and resolve a harvest for that apple. This can occur for multiple apple types within the one movement. If out of the two troughs there is only one tree tile available as an option, add one tile to each trough starting clockwise. If this is the last stopping point on the innermost spot then resolve the blossom scoring, move the applejack over the bridge to return to the start position, and increase the pip number by one.
Harvest:
Whenever the applejack moves over one or two apples on the track there will be an individual harvest to score each of these apples types. Each type of apple will score twice per round and six times within a game. To determine a harvest, each connected grouping of the scoring apple will be tallied and have the current applejack pip value deducted from it. For example, if you have two connected apple tiles with three yellow apples total, and the applejack is currently showing two pips than you will score 1 for that crop. Tally all your crops of that apple type and gain honey equal to the scores.
Blossom Scoring:
When the applejack crosses the bridge, any blossomed flowers in your orchard will score honey equal to the flower total multiplied by the value of the applejack. For example, if I have 3 blossoms in my orchard and the applejack shows two pips then I will score 6 honey.
End of Game:
When the game ends each variety of apple will score one last time with the applejack being counted at a value of 3. All values after the applejack deduction will be doubled as this is the last harvest. There is also a variety bonus, where having 4/5/6/7 different apple types will score a bonus 4/11/21/35 points, respectively.
The two final additions to end game scoring is all your leftover honey and blossoms in your orchard, which will give you one honey per flower. Whoever has the most points is the winner.
Final Thoughts:
- Easy rules with quick turns.
- Interesting tile placement as you are trying to get the middle ground of connecting apples while also connecting bee hives.
- Good iconography on the board denoting player turns.
- Choosing a andom tile can be a risky move as you have to pay for what you draw or place it face-down as a pasture.
- Advanced rules included with a different setup of when apples score, variant boards and a tile reservation rule.
Applejack is a game that simply clicked as soon as play began. The rules are easy to follow and recall but each turn players must face numerous decisions. There is firstly a choice between which tile works best in the orchard. With these tiles players are trying to extend apple connections for different types while also connecting beehives effectively. As the game develops, these goals become harder to achieve and changes to focus on diversifying the apples for and game scoring. I really enjoyed this game and it has earned a Silver Seal of Approval.
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